2003 Acura MDX -- Interior - Part 1

INTERIOR DESIGN
In the MDX, clean, solid forms on the instrument panel and door
areas
define a wide open and luxurious space. Positioned within that
space
are the driver's cockpit and a multi-use console reminiscent of
other
Acura models. Wood-patterned panels, chrome accents and the
generous
use of leather trim complement the design. For 2003, a variety of
enhancements were made to enhance quality and safety and
refine the
design of the MDX interior. These changes include:

Auto-up driver's side window with auto-reverse
feature

Available Acura DVD Entertainment System with infrared
wireless headphones and wireless remote control unit

Third generation Acura Navigation System with Voice
Recognition' and rearview camera

The focal point of the instrument panel is the personal
computer
aspect of the center control panel for climate control, music
system,
trip computer and, in the MDX with Touring Package, the
available
Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition and Acura DVD
Entertainment System. The console storage compartment offers
a wealth
of functional features without diminishing the overall sense of
roominess.

Control switches, beverage holders, storage pockets, power
outlets, and audio speakers are located throughout the interior to
offer a remarkable degree of ergonomic functionality while
upholding
the desired clean, purposeful theme. Seats are designed with a
luxurious, stylish appearance and a sporty image consistent with
this
product's athletic driving attributes.

Front and side air bags for the driver and front seat
passenger
are standard, as are a headrest and 3-point safety belts for all
seven passenger seating positions. For 2003, the front air bag
system
receives added sensors and new system logic. Weight sensors
have been
added to the front passenger seat. If total weight on the
passenger
seat is less than 65 pounds (as if occupied by a small child or
car
seat) the airbag will not deploy. Also new for 2003, a position
sensor has been added to the driver's seat - if the seat is within
half an inch of the most forward position, the front airbag will only
deploy in the dual-stage mode. If the seat is farther than a half
inch from the forward position, the airbag deploys in either single
or dual-stage mode based on the severity of the collision and
seat
belt usage. In the interest of versatility, second- and third-row
seats were designed for easy configuration from
seven-passenger
vehicle to cargo vehicle with a flat cargo floor - or any layout
between the two extremes. And to make the most use of the
interior
volume, an under-floor storage compartment is also provided
behind
the third row of seats.

The Acura MDX's interior provides more seating and cargo
space
than any of its key luxury SUV competitors- without resulting in a
bulky exterior. This was achieved by taking advantage of its
extra-wide wheel-track dimensions and an innovative driveline
that
delivers robust power, performance, and all-wheel-drive traction
without intruding on interior space. MDX's interior has a low, flat
floor for the first- and second-row seating positions for easy entry
and egress. The lack of a large and intrusive driveshaft tunnel
and
unwieldy rear-axle intrusion yields room for up to seven
passengers
in three seating rows, a highly versatile center console and a
cargo
area wide enough to accept four-foot-wide sheets of building
materials.

In keeping with Acura's tradition of selling fully-featured
products, MDX offers a wealth of power accessories,
conveniences, and
refinements as standard equipment. The MDX is the world's first
SUV
with a synchronized front and rear climate control system
engineered
for rapid warm-up in cold weather, expedient cool-down during
summer
months, and maximum all-around comfort for all seven
passengers.

The center console is designed to provide a front-seat
armrest, a
handy storage compartment, and second-row-passenger's
serving tray. A
large central LCD display screen houses the standard
multi-function
trip computer and in MDX models equipped with the optional
Touring
Package, the available DVD-based satellite-linked Acura System
with
Voice Recognition and Acura DVD Entertainment System.
Climate-control
buttons and displays are also integrated within the display
screen
for easy access, viewing and operation. Both the standard and
premium
Acura/Bose® music systems play AM/FM/CD, and cassette
source
material. The premium Acura Bose® system adds an in-dash,
six-CD
changer and an additional 8-inch speaker. In MDX models with
the
Acura DVD Entertainment System, the CD changer is relocated
under the
driver's seat.

MDX's steering wheel uses a thick rim section for a sporty,
substantial feel. The leather cover is perforated in grip areas to
prevent slippage. Cruise control switches are positioned
between the
right-side spokes while the music system control switches are
in a
corresponding position on the left.

The transmission shift lever is also covered in matching
perforated leather. It moves through a gate that helps the driver
quickly find the desired gear position. The center panels of the
leather seating surfaces are also perforated to provide additional
ventilation.

SEVEN-PASSENGER SEATING ACCOMMODATION
Three-row seating - two bucket seats in front, a three-passenger,
60-40-split middle-row bench seat, and a two-passenger
50-50-split
bench seat in back - is standard. Leather-trim on seating
surfaces
for the front two rows is also standard. Third-row seats are
upholstered in a leather-like, matching vinyl material for
resistance
to spills, dirt and scuffing.

The driver's seat features eight-way power adjustment and a
special adjustable lumbar support that flexes to match the
natural
curve of the spine under the weight of a passenger. Both the
upper
torso and the pelvis are held in an orthopedically correct
position.
The lower cushion design provides excellent comfort, even for
larger
occupants.

Side bolsters are configured to comfortably hold the driver
during
spirited driving without impeding ingress and egress. The
relatively
flat, open design of both front seats give the driver and front
passenger the freedom to adjust seating positions easily for
added
comfort on long trips. Integrated headrests, which were
redesigned
for 2003, and electric heating elements are standard in both front
seats. In MDX models with the Touring Package, memory
seating
positions - as well as the rearview mirror pre-sets - are matched
to
either one of the two keyless remote entry fobs, and
automatically
adjust to each driver's pre-selected positions.

All seating positions have three-point seat belts. Front seat
belts are equipped with pretensioners and automatic load
limiters
that are activated during severe frontal collisions. The MDX
comes
with standard driver's and passenger's front dual-stage,
dual-threshold air bags. These air bags can deploy at the most
appropriate of two rates - depending on the severity of the crash.
New weight sensors on the front passenger side, a seat
position
sensor on the driver's side and deployment logic for the front
airbags further enhance safety.

The driver's and front passenger's seats also feature side
air
bags mounted in the seat bolster closest to the door. The
passenger's
seat is equipped with a system designed to disable side air bag
deployment and help prevent injury to a child (or small-statured
adult) if they lean into the side air bag deployment path. Once the
occupant returns to an upright seating position, the side air bag
will reactivate so it can deploy and help protect the passenger in
a
side impact.

MDX's middle-row seat is a 60-40-split design with
comfortable
room for three passengers, height-adjustable headrests, and a
fold-down combination armrest and dual cupholder. To
comfortably
accommodate taller passengers, MDX engineers located seat
height a
reasonable distance above the flat floor and made the door
openings
larger for unrestricted entry.

Second-row seatbacks can be adjusted through seven
positions of
recline. The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
system is
included on outboard second row seats. The LATCH system
features
built-in anchors and ready-to-use tethers that allow compatible
child
safety seats to be installed without using the vehicle's seat belt
system.

To fold the second row seat, a special four-bar linkage
automatically cantilevers the bottom seat cushion both down and
forward as the seat back is folded down to create a flat load floor.
In contrast to some competitor's SUVs, releasing, lowering,
raising,
and re-latching the folding second-row seat are simple
one-handed
operations. Placing a child in the second row seating area or
loading
a grocery bag into the cargo through the back door are, thanks to
design ingenuity, simple tasks.

A convenient walk-in feature is provided at the right (curb)
side
of MDX's second-row seat. Lifting one lever permits the whole
seat to
slide forward on its tracks and the backrest to tilt forward,
providing an entry path to the third row seats. Simply pushing the
seat rearward again re-latches the seat in its rearmost position.
The
seat-tilt mechanism, step-in height, and the opening provided
between
the open second-row seat and the door frame are all sized for
easy
and convenient use by children. A hand-hold is also provided on
MDX's
rear side wall trim to simplify passenger access to the third row
seats.

MDX's third row is an occasional seat configured specifically
for
children or small adults. A slightly elevated hip point height
provides good forward visibility for third-row passengers while
headrests are both height adjustable and removable. Like the
second
row, backrests can be reclined through six positions. Two tether
anchors are provided for securing one or two tether-style child
safety seats in the third row seats.

When not in use, either half of the third-row seat can be
folded
flat on a 4-bar linkage (similar to the second row seat) that
brings
it flush with the floor. Handles positioned at the top-outboard
corners are accessible both from the rear doors and from the
tailgate. This lift handle also releases each half of the seat so it
can be raised or lowered independently. The third-row seat
headrests
can be stored in the cargo compartment located under the rear
floor.

STORAGE CAPACITY
Engineers configured MDX to handle a wide range of
contemporary
family storage needs. In addition to the center console bin and
beverage container holders, MDX has a long list of built-in
features
and the easy adjustment necessary to serve drivers of premium
SUVs.

The hinged glove box is illuminated, lined with flocking
material,
and lockable. A motion damper allows a controlled, fluid opening
motion - preventing the lid from banging open against a front
passenger's knees.

The front door pockets are purposely configured to hold
maps,
guide books, and road atlases while the rear door pockets are
just
right for sunglasses, small toys, treats, and bottled beverage
containers. Armrests for the third-row seating area have small
storage boxes covered by latchable lids. A rear under-floor
compartment is ideally located for easy access through the open
liftgate. Pockets stretched across the rear of the front bucket
seats
are ideal for storing a variety of things for easy access by
front-row and second-row passengers.

MDX's impressive cargo volume - the single attribute that
attracts
most buyers to SUVs in the first place - is, as you would expect,
versatile and practical. Four-foot wide sheets of building
materials
slide in between wheel wells with ease - an attribute not
matched by
MDX's direct competitors. With second- and third-row seats
folded
down, MDX offers 82 cubic feet of cargo space to swallow
virtually
whatever you may need to carry.

A low load floor and seats that fold flat are the keys to
versatility. To simplify conversion of the seats to a cargo area the
third-row and second-row center seat belts easily detach from
their
floor anchors with a patented and simple-to-use mechanism. Six
cargo
tie downs are located strategically around the perimeter of the
load
floor to help secure objects susceptible to sliding or rolling. And
since both the second- and third-row seats are split designs, six
cargo/seating configurations are possible to suit carrying needs.
Various accessory hardware is available from Acura dealers to
safely
and conveniently carry bicycles and other gear inside the vehicle
and
the roof rack (standard on MDX with Touring Package, optional
on MDX)
is useful for hauling skis, surfboards, or bulky camping
equipment.

Thanks to the wide-opening liftgate and flat floor, large items, such as the box for a 32-inch TV will slide right into place for convenient transport. And it's possible to tote home 15, 3-cubic-foot bags of garden mulch without blocking outward vision. When the middle seating row is in use, there's still 49.6-cubic feet of space available, more than a full size car's trunk. And if it's necessary to use all three rows of seats, MDX still provides 14.8-cubic feet of space behind the third-row seat - enough for eight paper grocery bags, four duffels and a cooler, or a full set of golf clubs.

A separation net is offered as a dealer-installed accessory
that
attaches to four built-in attachment points, two in the floor and
two
in the ceiling, and provides a separate area for cargo behind the
second row of seats, along with a cargo liner and liftgate apron
that
can be folded out over the rear bumper when the liftgate is
opened.